Thread winding and treating machine



April 28, 1936. J. E. HIGGINS 2,038,789

THREAD WINDING AND TREATING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet1 mum 7 $1 /4-,INVENTQ R ATT g April 28, 1936.

J. E. HIGGINS THREAD WINDING AND TREATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR ATTORNEY I April 28, 1936. J 2,038,789

THREAD WINDING AND TREATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 3/N\/ENTOR i ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, Q 1936 4 UNITED STATES THREADWINDING AND TREATING MACHINE James E. Higgins, Buffalo, N. Y., assignorto Du Pont Rayon Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication August 5, 1933, Serial'No. 683,745

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for applying a liquid to a textilethread while the thread is being wound into a package such as a'cone,cop or the like. The invention is particularly applicable to thetreatment of threads of rayon or the like with a suitable dressing, suchas oil or other lubricant, to facilitate the bending orlooping of thethread during fabrication.

In winding machines, the cores upon which the thread is wound arecommonly driven at a constant speed during the winding operation: Hence,.the linear speed of the thread increases with the diameter of thelayers of thread on the-core, the increase in speed of the thread from,start to finish amounting in some cases to 400% or more.

In order to produce a uniformly wound and treated package on suchmachines, it is necessary to control the rate of liquid supply inaccordance with the linear speed of the thread and to maintain thethread under substantially constant tension throughout the windingoperation, or at least to prevent any appreciable increase in tension asthe package becomes larger. The oil or other dressing should preferablybe applied continuously, at a controlled rate, and in such a manner asnot to materially affect the tension of the thread. A continuous anduniform application of oil is particularly important in the case ofoilresistant yarn, such as yarn containing pigmentlike particles, whichretardthe equalization of the oil within the yarn itself.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved means for regulating the quantity of liquid applied to thethread during the winding operation.

Another object is to provide for continuously applying a regulatedquantity of liquid to the thread.

Another object is to provide an oiling device capable of a widevariation in the rate of oiling without materially affecting thetensionof the moving thread.

A further object is to provide a device for winding thread onto apackage while maintaining a substantially constant tension and forapplying a uniform quantity of dressing liquid to the thread.

A still further object is to provide a winding apparatus in which therate of oiling may be varied to suit the capillarity, denier, etg. ofthe thread.

Still another object is to provide an eflicient and dependable device ofthe type above indicated.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the thread is caused to wipeover a continuously rotating cylinder or wiper roll which dips in a bathof liquid dressing, such as oil or other lubricant. Means is.v providedfor varying both the extent of the arc of contact and the angle betweenthe arc and the axis of rotation of the 5 roll. As the size of thepackage, and consequently the linear speed of the thread, increases, thethread is caused to wipe over a greater are of the roll andsimultaneously to wipe across the surface of the roll at a decreasingangle to the axis of rotation of the roll. The quantity of oil applied vto the thread is accordingly dependent upon the length of the arc ofcontact and upon the total area of the roll which is wiped by .thethread. Means is provided for making suitable adjust- 5 l ment of therelationship between the variation in the path of travel of the threadand the linear speed thereof, so that the device may be satisfactorilyoperated with various types of thread and with various types of liquiddressing. Guide means are also provided for controlling the path oftravel of the thread in such manner that the thread is maintained atsubstantially constant tension throughout-the winding operation.

The invention also consists in certain new and original featuresof-construction and combinations 'of parts hereinafter set forthdplaimed.

Although the novel features which. are believedto be characteristic ofthis invention 'will be pointed out more particularly in the claimsappended'hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantagesand the manner in which it may-be carried out, will be better understoodby referring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a winding machine embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 1 of Figure 1, showing theposition of the thread 40 with respect to the wiper roll near thebeginning of the winding operation; I

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, showing theposition of the thread near the end of the winding operation;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the supporting bar for the movable threadguide;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the wiper roll and thread illustrating thearea of the roll wiped by the thread in the position shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a partial front elevation of a winding machine showing amodified form of thread guide: and

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Like reference numerals denote like parts in the various figures of thedrawings.

Referring to the drawings more in detail,- the invention is shown asembodied in a'machine adapted to receive threads Hi from suitablesources I I, such as spools, cakes or the like, which threads are to betreated with a liquid dressing through stationary thread guides lla' and|2,

overa wiper roll l4, and through a movable guide |5 which is adapted tocontrol the path of travel of the thread over the wiper roll H in themanner to be described. The wiper roll |4 dips in a bath l6 of liquiddressing held in a trough which may be supported from the main frame 20of the machine in any convenient manner, v

After passing through the movable guide IS, the thread I0 passes througha guide 2|, a tension device 22 of well-known form, and a guide 23,thence through a traversing thread guide 24 by which it is directedon toa core or cone 25 which is mounted on a rotating spindle 26. The variousspindles 26 are rotatably mounted on the frame 20 of the machine and areadapted to be rotated in unison and at constant speed by suitabledriving means (not shown) The traversing thread guide 24 is adapted tomove longitudinally of said spindle during the winding operation forcausing the thread to be wound thereon in helical courses and is mountedon a support 30 which is pivoted to the frame 20, as by a pivot 3|. Acounterweight 32, carried by the support 30, holds the guide 24inoperative position with respect to the cone 25- and permits the support30 to swing about the pivot 3| as the diameter of the massof thread onthe cone 25 increases.

The stationary thread guide I 2 may be mounted on the trough preferablyin front of and below the axis of the roll l4. The movable thread guideI5 is mounted in a block 33 which is adapted to slide on a bar 34.Thisbar .34 extends longitudinally of the roll .l4 and is adjustablymounted in an inclined position by spin-,

dies 35 extendingv through elongated slots 36 (Figure 4) in the ends ofsaid bar. Suitable adjustment may be made by thumb nuts 31 which iarethreaded on the spindles 35 and engage the bar 34. The ends of the bar34 may be provided with points 40 which cooperate with indices 4|carried on index plates 42 to facilitate adjustment of the .bar. 7 Thespindles 35 and the index plates 42 may be mounted on a longitudinal bar43 which may be supported from the trough IT by bolts 44 carryingspacing sleeves 45 which seat in suitable recesses in the bar 43.

For controlling the position of the block 33 on the bar 34, there isprovided a rod 50, pivoted at one end-to said block and at the other endto a link bar-5|, as by a pivot 52. The link bar 5| is adjustablysecured to the support 30 by alink53andapin 54. Thelink53issecured tothe pivot 3| of the support. Both the rod and the link bar 5| may beprovided with a plurality of holes to permit adjustment of the pivot 52and of the pin 54, so as to obtain any '.desired relationship betweenthe sliding movement of theblock 33 and the swinging movement of theSupport-30. Y

The tension device 22 may be mounted on a suitable bracket 55 carried bythe frame 20 and may comprise, for example, a pair of comb members 56.between which the thread passes and which are adapted to exert pressureon said thread for applying the necessary tension thereto. Suitablemeans, 'well known in the art, may be provided for varying the relativeposition of the comb members 56 so as to maintain the ter.

sion of thethread substantially constant as the speed of travel thereofincreases during the winding operation.

The wiper roll I4 is mounted on a shaft 60 which may be supported insplit bearings formed partly in arms GI and partly in blocks 62 securedthereto by screws 63. The shaft 60 may extend along the trough l1, andmay carry a plurality of such rolls l4 which are driven in unison, as bya belt (not shown) cooperating with pulleys 54carried by said shaft. Thearms 6| maybe provided at one end with shoulders 65 seating on thetrough H and secured thereto by screws 66, and at the other end withshoulders 10 seating against the bar 43 to which they are secured bybolts II In the operation of the. above-described device, rotation ofthe spindle 26 causes thread from the spool II to pass through theguides a, 2 and I5, over the wiper roll l4, through the tension which itis directed onto the core 25.

The wiperroll I4 is preferably rotated-in such. I

a direction that at the point of contact with the thread ID, the surfaceof the roll and the thread travel in opposite directions. As the rollrotates, the surface thereof picks up liquid l6 from the trough l1 andcarries the same to the thread Ill.

The quantity of liquid applied to the thread as the thread wipes overthe roll depends upon the viscosity of the liquid, the speed of theroll, the arc of contact between the roll and the thread, the area ofthe roll wiped by the thread, and the characteristics of the thread.

As the diameter of the layers of thread on the core 25 increasesthesupport 30 swings about its pivot and, by the rod 50, causes the block33 ,to-

slide along the bar 34. The relative position of the guides l2 and I5 issuch that at the beginning of the winding operation the thread passesover the roll M at a tangent extending in the trans- I verse planeof theroll. As the guide l5 moves, due to the movement of thesupport 3B, thethread is caused to cross the roll M at an increasing angle to thetransverse plane of the roll and to contact with the surface of the rollin progressively longer arcs. The angularity is determined by the rateof movement, of the guide I5 longitudinally of the roll, and the extentof the arc oflcoritact is determined by the inclination of the bar 34 tothe axis of the roll l4. The difference in angularity between the startand finish of the winding operation is illustrated by the windingmechanisms shown at the right and left,

respectively, of Figure 1. The difierence in extent of the .arc ofcontact is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. I

When the thread engages the roll at a tangent,

it contacts with the roll at only a single point and the minimum amountof liquid is applied to the thread. However, as the arc of contact ofthe thread with the roll increases, liquid is applied more rapidly tocompensate for the increase in speed of the thread. When, in addition toincreasing its arc of contact, the angularity of the thread increases,the thread receives liquid from a greater surface area of the roll. Forexample, if the thread engages the roll between points A and B in Figure5, it will wipe an area between the dotted lines 12. This area isdetermined by'the sine of the angle between the thread and thetransverse section of the roll and by the length of the arc of contactof the thread with-the roll.

It is evident from the above that the amount of liquid applied to thethread may be varied from .that which is picked up by a portion of thesurface of the roll equal in length to the diameter of the thread, tothe amount of liquid which is picked up by the entire surface of theroll between the lines 12, in-Figure 5.- The rate of application of theliquid may accordingly be varied to compensate for the change in speedof the thread so as to maintain a uniform effect throughout.Furthermore, this variation is obtained without materially affecting thetension of the thread because, first, the arc of contact is not greatlyincreased compared to the increase oiling effect and, second, the changeindirection at the various guiding means remains substantially constant.

Referring to Figures 2'and 3, it is evident that the angular deviationof the thread at the guiding means l2 and I5 is practically the same inthe two extreme positions of the guilding means l5. Furthermore, whenthe position of the guide I5 is such that a minimum contact is obtainedbetween the thread and the roll, for example as shown at the right ofFigure l, a maximum change in direction occurs at the guides 2| and 23.

Hence, as the friction at the roll increases, the friction at the guides2| and 23 decreases, thereby partly compensating for the increase inpull of the roll.

It is to be noted that the rate of change of the lubricating effect maybe varied by adjusting the speed of the roll, the effective length ofthe rod 50,

the eflective length of the link bar 5], or the position of the bar 34on its spindles 35. The bar 34 may be curved if a non-linear change isdesired. The initial position of the thread with respect to the roll maybe varied as required within the range above described. The particularadjusting means may also be varied as will be apparent to a personskilled in the art.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and '7, the parts similar tothose above described have been given similar reference numerals. Inthis form, an arm 80, having'a flange 8| carrying a movable thread guide82, is pivotally mounted on an extension 83 of the bracket 55,-as by apin 84, which engages one of a set of apertures 85 in said extension.The arm is preferably mounted at the rear and at one end of the roll l4,whereby the guide 82 travels longitudinally of the roll in an inclinedpath which is arcuate but is otherwise similar to the path of themovable guide l5 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

For actuating the arm 80 a'link 86 is provided which is pivotallyconnected between one of .a

set of apertures 81 in the arm 80 and one of a set of apertures 88 in abar 89, which may be secured to the support 38 in any convenient manner.The sets of apertures 85', 81 and. 88 permit suitable adjustment to bemade of the arm 80 and of its path of movement. This form of theinvention operates in a similar manner mit.

to the form shown in Figures 1 to.3. When the support 30 swings in aclockwise direction (Figure 6), due to an increase in the thickness ofthe thread on the core 25, the arm 8|] is caused to pivot about the pin84 and the guide 82 is moved in a descending path, which causes thethread III to cross the roll M at an increasing angle and to contactwith the surface of the roll over an increasing arc.

It is obvious that both the direction and extent of movement of theguide 82 may be adjusted by any suitable means, such as by changing theposition of the link 86 or by changing the position of thepin 84. 1

In accordance with the present invention, the uniform and continuousapplication of dressing causes all parts of the thread to exertsubstantially the same friction on the guides and the tension device andeliminates the wide fluctua tions in tension that would be caused byuneven or intermittent distribution of the dressing. The wide variationin liquid supply obtained by the above device permits proper regulationover a wide range of linear speeds, such as those encountered in windinglarge packages of thread. Furthermore, the uniform tension reduces thebreaks to a minimum and produces a higher quality package.

While certain parts are referred to herein by specific terms forconvenience, they are intended to be interpreted as broadly as the artwill pet- The invention is only to be limited in accordance with thefollowing claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a winding machine, in combination,

means to feed a thread, a continuously rotating member adapted to wipeagainst said thread,

and means to vary automatically the relative position of the thread andthe rotating member so as to change both the extent and direction of thearc of contact of the thread with said member.

2. In a winding machine, in combination, means to feed a thread, acontinuously rotating member having a surface adapted to dip in a bathof liquid and to wipe against the thread for applying said liquidthereto, and means to vary automatically the path of the thread oversaid member so as to change both the extent and direction of the arc ofcontact of the thread with said surface, whereby to vary therate =01application of the liquid to said thread.

In a winding machine, in combination,

means to feed a thread, a continuously rotating member having a surfaceadapted to dip in a bath of liquid and to wipe against the thread forapplying said liquid thereto, said thread contacting with the surface ofsaid member over dip in a bath of liquid and to wipe against the thread,means to guide the thread over said =member on its way to said support,and means to change automatically both the direction. of-

travel pf the thread over said member andthe extent of the arc ofcontact therewith; whereby area of the',member wiped bythe to vary therate of application or the liquid to the thread.

5. In a winding machine, in combination, a rotary support adapted tohave a thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasingdiameters, a continuously rotating member adapted to dip in a bath ofliquid and to wipe against the the thread, means to guide the threadover said member on its way to said support, and means controlledby thediameter of the mass of thread on the support to change automaticallythe direction of travel of the thread over said member and the extent ofthe arc of contact therewith,

whereby to vary the rate of application of the.

liquid to the thread.

6. In a winding machine, in combination, a rotary support adapted tohave a. thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasingdiameters, a traversing guide for guiding the thread on to said support,said guide being pivoted for movement in response to changes in diameterof the mass of thread on said support, a c'ontinuously rotating memberadapted to wipe against the thread on its way to said guide, and meanscontrolled by the position of said guide for automatically varying boththe direction and the extent of the arc of contact of the thread withsaid member. I

7. In a winding machine, in combination, a rotary support adapted tohave a thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasingdiameters, a traversing guide for guiding the thread on said support,said guide being pivoted for move- 'ment in response to changes indiameter of the mass of thread onto said support, a continuouslyrotating member adapted todip in a bath of liquid and to wipe againstthe thread on its way to said guide, and means controlled by theposition of said guide for automatically varying both the direction andthe extent of the arc of contact --of the thread with said member,whereby to vary the rate of application of the liquid to the thread inaccordance with the change in linear speed thereof as the diameter ofthe mass of thread on said rotary support increases.

8. In a winding machine, in combination, a pair of thread guides,,arotating member adapted to wipe against the thread between said guides,and means to move automatically oneof said guides longitudinally. of theaxis of rotation of said member in a path non-parallel to said axis soas to change both the direction and extent of the arc of contact of thethread with said member.

9.In a winding machine, in combination, a pair of thread guides, arotating cylinder adapt- 4 ed to wipe against the thread between saidguides,

means to move automatically one ofsaid guides longitudinally of the axisof rotation of said cylinder in a path non-parallel to said axis so asto rotation of said cylinder and non-parallel to said' axis, one of saidguides being adaptedto slide on said support so as to change both thedirection and extent of the arc of contact of the thread with saidcylinder. r

11. In a winding machine, in combination, a pair of thread guides, arotating cylinder adapted pair of thread guides, a rotating cylinderadapted to wipe against the thread between said guides,

a rod extending'longitudinally of the axis of rotation' of said cylinderand non-parallel to said axis, means adjustably mounting said rod, index15 means to indicate the adjustment thereof, and means to slide one ofsaid guides along said rod so as to change both the direction and extentof the arc of contact of the thread with said cylin der.

13. In a winding machine, in combination, a rotary support adapted tohave a thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasingdiameters, a traversing guide for guidingthe thread onto said support,said guide being pivoted for movement in response to changes in diameterof the mass of thread on said support, a pair of thread guides adaptedto guide the thread on its way to said traversing guide, a continuouslyrotating member adapted to wipe against the thread between said pair ofguides, and means controlled by the position of said traversing guide tomove one of said pair of guides longitudinally of the axis of rotationof said member and in a path non-parallel to said axis for changing boththe direction and extent of the arc of contact of the thread with saidmember. I

v 14. In a winding machine, in combination, a rotarysupport adapted tohave a thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasing diam- 4oeters, a traversing guide for guiding the thread onto said support, saidguide being pivoted for movement in response to changes in diameter ofthe mass of thread on said support, a rotating member adapted to dipinto a bath of liquid and to wipe against the thread on its way to saidtraversing guide, a movable thread guide adapted to direct the threadover said member, and a rod extending longitudinally of said member andat an angle to. the axis of rotation thereof, said second guide beingadapted to slide on said rod in response to variations in position ofsaid trav-- ersing guide.

15. In a winding machine, in combination, a rotary support adapted tohave a thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasingdiameters, a traversing guide for guiding the thread onto said support,said guide being pivoted for movement in response to changes in diameterof the mass of thread on said support, a rotating member adapted to dipinto a bath of liquid and towipe against the thread on its way to saidtraversing guide, a movable thread guide adapted to direct the threadover said member, a rod extending longitudinally of said' member and atan angle to the axis of rotation thereof, said second guide. beingadapted to slide on said rod in response to variations in position ofsaid trav- -ersing guide, and means to adjust the relative movement ofsaid second guide and of said traversing guide to control the rate ofliquid supply in accordance with increase in thread speed as thediameter of the mass of thread on the. support becomes larger,

16. In a winding machine, in combination, a

12. In a winding machine, in combination, a 10 continuously rotatingmember adapted to have a thread wound thereon in successive layers ofincreasing diameters, a continuously rotating cylinder adapted to dip ina bath of liquid and to wipe against the thread on its way to saidrotating member, a traversing guide adapted to guide the thread on tosaid rotating member, said guide being pivoted for movement in responseto changes in diameter of the mass of thread on said member, means toguide said thread over said cylinder comprising a movable guide memberadapted to move longitudinally of said cylinder in a path non-parallelto the axis thereof, and means controlled by the position of saidtravers ing guide for varying the position of said movable guide so asto cause the thread to wipe the surface of said cylinder over anincreasing arc extending at an increasing angle to the transversesection of said cylinder as the diameter of the mass of thread on saidrotating support increases.

17. In a winding machine, in combination, a continuously rotating memberadapted to have a thread wound thereon in successive layers ofincreasing diameters, a rotating cylinder adapted to dip in a bath ofliquid and to wipe against the thread on its way'to said rotatingmember, a traversing guide adapted to guide the thread on to saidrotating member, said guide being piv-t oted for movement in response tochanges in diameter of the mass of thread on said member, means to guidesaid thread over said cylinder comprising a rod extending longitudinallyof said cylinder and non-parallel to the-axis thereof, a movable guidemember adapted to slide on .said rod, and adjustable link meansconnecting said movable guide and said traversing guide for varying theposition of said movable guide so as to said rotating member; said guidebeing pivoted for movement in response to changes in diameter of themass of thread on said member, 1

means to guide said thread over said cylinder comprising a rod extendinglongitudinally of said cylinder and non-parallel to the axis thereof, amovable guide member adapted to slide on said rod, adjustable link meansconnecting said movable guide and said traversing guide for varying theposition of said movable guide so as to cause the thread to wipe thesurface of said cylinder over an increasing are extending at anincreasing angle to the transverse section of said cylinder as thediameternf the mass of thread on said rotating support increases, andmeans to adjust the position of said rod for changing I the rate ofincrease of said are and the angular variation of the thread to obtainthe desired liquid distribution.

19. In a winding machine, in combination, means to feed a thread, acontinuously rotating cylinder adapted to wipe against said thread, apair of guides for guiding said thread to and from said cylinder, meansto move automatically one of said guides longitudinally of said cylinderin a path non-parallel to the axis thereof for adjusting the path oftravel of the thread over said cylinder, each of said, guides causing asubstantial change in direction of said thread, the change in directionbeing substantially constant regard less of the position of said movableguide.

20. In a winding machine, in combination; a rotary support adapted tohave a thread wound thereon in successive layers of increasingdiameters, a traversing guide for guiding the thread on to said support,said guide being pivoted for movement in response to changes in diameterof the mass of thread onsaid support, a continuously rotating memberadapted to wipe against the thread on its way to said guide, meanscontrolled by the position of said guide for varying the directionand-extent of the arc of contact of the thread with said member, andmeans to maintain the tension of said thread substantially constant-asthe extent and direction of the arc of contact with said member changes.

21. In a winding machine, in combination, a

rotary support adapted to have a thread wound thereon insuccessivelayers of increasing diameters, a traversing guide for guidingthe thread on to said support, said guide being pivoted for movement inresponse to changes in diameter of the mass of thread on said support, acontinuously rotating member adapted to dip into a bath of liquid and towipe against the thread on its way to said traversing guide, a movablethread guide adapted to direct the thread over said member, a pivotedmember carrying said movable guide, said pivoted member being adapted tocause said guide to move man are extending longitudinally of saidrotating member and generally inclined to the axis thereof, and meansinterconnecting said pivoted member and said traversing guide, wherebymovement of said traversing guide in response to an increase in diameterof the thread on said-support causes movement of said movable guideadapted to increase the arc'of contact andthe angle of contact of thethread with the rotating member.

22. In a winding machine, in combination, a pair of thread guides, acontinuously rotating cylinder adapted to wipe against the threadbetween said guides, an arm pivoted to swing in'a plane extendinglongitudinally of saidcylinder.

